Air circulating means for display fixtures



March 31, 1936. ALLEN 2,035,936 AIR CIRCULATING MEANS FOR DISPLAY FIXTURES Filed March 6, 1955 Z77 5: 6V2 INVENTOR BY and '1 64 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 31, 1936 AIR CIRCULATING llIEANS FOR DISPLAY FIXTURES Erhard Allen, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Dayton Display Fixture Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application Marclr 6, 1935, Serial No. 9,619

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in air circulating means for display fixtures.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide air circulation means for display fixtures, and particularly those fixtures which support and moisten perishable vegetables and fruits.

Moisture is just as necessary for vegetables as refrigeration is for meats. But moisture alone will not long preserve vegetables and fruit in a fresh condition. A thorough aeration of them from all parts of the supporting fixture is required to keep them from one day to another in a fresh, crisp and colorful state.

The foregoing result is accomplished under my invention by providing horizontal air openings of substantially uniform height in all sides, ends and partitions of the fixture. This air, absorbing external moisture and that produced by the misters, flows freely below, between and over the vegetables and fruit on the reticulated or screen trays to completely aerate them at all times.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification and particularly set forth in the subjoined claim.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vegetable and fruit display fixture provided with my air circulation means. Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the fixture above its open sides. Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken through the upper part of the fixture, showing the horizontal openings therein. Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken through one panel face of the fixture. Figure 5 is a partial plan view of two adjacent reticulated trays, showing one Ofn the water misting tubes. And Figure 6 is a sectional view taken through two adjacent screen trays, showing one of the dividers inverted and one in an upright position.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a detailed description of my invention, the numeral I designates an island fruit and vegetable display fixture of a well-known type, comprising in this instance two end units 2 and 3, .and two center units 4 and 5. Each end unit is provided with an outer corner panel 6 and a large side panel 1. Base members 8 surround the end units 3 and 4, the space just above these end members between the corner panels 6, 6 being open to receive heavy metal, perforated boxes 9 which rest on the base.

Projecting between the corner panel members 6, 6 well above the boxes9, in each end unit of the fixture is a horizontal channel member I0. Between the top portions of these corner panel members 6, 6 in each end unit, there projects an apron member I I having a lower horizontal flange between which and thehorizontal flange on the 5 channel member ID there is an opening I2 through which external air may enter the fixture below the vegetables and fruit supported upon reticulated or screen trays I3. A similar horizontal air circulation opening I2 is formed 10 between a top horizontal flange on each corner panel 6 and side panel I, and a horizontal flange at the bottom of the apron members I4. The latter and the apron members I I are of approximately uniform width to bring the openings I2 15 which they form with the members below them,

in substantial horizontal alinement. (See Figure 1).

Each of the central units 4 and 5 is provided with a base member 8 between which and 20 a channel member In well above it, the unit is open to receive the perforated boxes 9. (See Figures 1 and 2). As shown in Figure 4 the flanged panels and aprons are secured by bolts I5 to vertical angle members I6. Secured to 25 the latter are cap members that are formed inwardly and downwardly to provide flange seats I! for the screen trays I3.

Secured to the vertical angle members I6 just below the apron I4 of each central unit is a member I 8, U-shaped in cross section. A similar U- member I 8 is secured to vertical angle members l9 at the middle of the fixture. The horizontal flange on the apron I4 at the front of each central unit is spaced a sufiicient distance from the 35 upper horizontal flange to provide another horizontal air circulation opening l2 in substantial alinement with the air openings I2 in the side panels "I, I of the end units 3 and 4 respectively. Supported by the lower horizontal flanges of the 40 U-members I8, I8 of each central unit is a water pan 20. (See Figures 2 and 3.)

The upper ends of the front vertical angle members are turned inwardly and downwardly to form flanged seats 2| for the front portions of inclined 45 reticulated or screen trays 22. The rear ends of these trays rest upon flanges 23 formed at the bottoms of elongated U-shaped members 24 that are fitted over the tops of the middle angle members I9.

Secured to these middle angle members I9 are wide apron members 25, 25 formed at their lower ends with horizontal flanges 26, 26 which are spaced a sufficient distance above the top flanges of the rear U-members I8 to provide horizontal 55 air circulation openings 21 at the rear portions of the central units 4 and 5. These apron members 25, as well as the U-members l8, extend around the ends of the central units 4 and 5 to provide between them continuations of the air circulation openings 21 that register with similar openings in the adjoining ends of the end units 2 and 3, thus providing for a free circulation of air through the sides and ends of all the units comprising the fixture.

As shown in Figure 6 I have provided angle dividing members 28 which may be placed at. the

middle of the trays in the positions illustrated in that figure, or set upright at other positions to vary the vegetable or fruit receiving spaces on' these trays.

Projecting upwardly through the center units 4 and 5 are water tubes 29, four in this instance,-

which carry at their upper ends misters 30.

Although these misters may be of any suitable type they are shown as yoke-shaped in Figures 1 and 2. The mist spread by these devices over the vegetables and fruit from above, is assisted in preserving'them by the air that. enters-the fixture throughthev horizontal openings Hand 21 from all sides and ends of the fixture units. This air, which absorbs much external moisture, does not enter the fixture at any one place, but flows into it, and upwardly through the reticulated trays carrying the vegetables and fruit, from all surrounding points.

As will be observed from Figure 5, the trays 22 of the central units 3 and 4, are notched at the points where the misting tubes 29 pass them in order that they may fit more closely together.

Having described my invention, I claim:

Av display stand comprising a frame having sides and ends, reticulated trays mounted in said frame for displaying vegetables and fruits, aprons formed with lower horizontal flanges mounted end to end about the upper sides and ends of the frame, and members having top horizontal flanges mounted in' parallelism with the aprons on the sides and ends of the frame, said flanges being spaced asufiicient distance apart to provide horizontal openings through which atmospheric air may be admitted to the frame below said trays from all directions to preserve the perishable articles thereon in'a fresh condition.

ERHARD ALLEN. 

